ISCMGEH-Africa

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Background

A consortium of Senior Academics and Researchers in Medical Geology, Environmental Geochemistry and Health came together in 2021 to put together an international virtual platform for students (undergrads and postgrads) to showcase their research findings in environmental geochemistry and health and medical geology. The First edition of the Conference held virtually in October 2021 for the Latin Americas.  Fifteen students participated with more than 100 attendees. These student researchers examined the impacts of the environment from both natural and anthropogenic influences on human, animal, and plant health. These are increasingly important fields of study that will help minimize adverse impacts of both modern industrial society and the natural environment on living organisms. The conference received institutional support from several International scientific and governmental organisations. The 2022 edition is being devoted to the Africa Continent. 

The advantage of this mode of conference is that it requires very little funding to organise, and it removed the financial burden from students as they do not need to travel to participate in an international scientific event. The students also do not pay any registration fees to participate in the conference.  

This series of virtual conferences is designed to provide students with several benefits including: 

• Providing students with a convenient opportunity to showcase their research 

• Offering a comfortable venue to practice writing and speaking English; essential skills for        professional development 

• Allowing students, faculty, and others to learn of complimentary research being conducted within their region and to foster future collaborations 

• Receiving constructive feedback on their research projects from knowledgeable attendees 

• Fostering networking with other students and with established researchers in the region 

• Providing tangible encouragement and awards for outstanding student research projects 

• Posting their abstracts on several accessible, respected organizational platforms for web visibility 

• Free one-year memberships in cooperating organizations  

The cooperating organizations will benefit by stimulating interest and membership in their organization and increased awareness of regional medical geology/environmental health issues. In short, the International Student Conferences on Medical Geology and Environmental Health presents a win-win-win opportunity for all who participate.